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Nicknamed “The Bus”, Jerome Bettis is a former American football player who has an estimated net worth of $26 million. He earned his net worth while playing as a halfback for the St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL). Born Jerome Abraham Bettis Sr. on February 16, 1972, in Detroit, Michigan, he did not start playing football until high school. He attended the Mackenzie High School in Detroit where he was a standout running back and linebacker. He was rated the top player in the state by the Detroit Free Press and was the Gatorade Circle of Champions Player award winner as a senior. He attended the University of Notre Dame where he finished his career with 337 rushing attempts for 1912 yards (5.7 yards per rushing attempt avg.) and made 32 receptions for 429 yards (13.4 yards per reception).
Bettis was the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and signed a three-year contract on July 22, 1993. He quickly earned the nickname “The Battering Ram” as he rushed for 1,429 yards. He was named a First-Team All-Pro and Offensive Rookie of the Year. In the 1995 season, the Rams moved to St. Louis. He was acquired by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1996 as a featured back. He rushed for over 1,300 yards in each of his first six seasons between 1996 and 2001.
Jerome Bettis announced his retirement standing on the champion’s podium while holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2005. His jersey #36 was no longer reissued since he retired despite the Steelers no longer officially retire numbers. He received an honorary Doctoral degree from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan on May 21, 2006.
Earnings & Financial Data
Date |
Category |
Description |
Amount |
---|---|---|---|
2005 |
Salary |
Salary from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$100,000 |
2004 |
Signing Bonus |
Signing bonus from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$2,000,000 |
2004 |
Salary |
Salary from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$1,500,000 |
2004 |
Bonus |
Workout bonus from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$100,000 |
2003 |
Bonus |
Workout bonus from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$100,000 |
2003 |
Salary |
Salary from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$900,000 |
2002 |
Salary |
Salary from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$2,700,000 |
2002 |
Bonus |
Workout bonus from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$90,000 |
2002 |
Others |
Incentive from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$100,000 |
2001 |
Others |
Incentive from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$50,000 |
2001 |
Bonus |
Workout bonus from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$90,000 |
2001 |
Salary |
Salary from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$2,200,000 |
2000 |
Salary |
Salary from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$600,000 |
2000 |
Contract |
Contract with Pittsburgh Steelers |
$36,100,000 |
2000 |
Bonus |
Workout bonus from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$90,000 |
2000 |
Others |
Incentive from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$50,000 |
1999 |
Salary |
Salary from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$3,200,000 |
1999 |
Signing Bonus |
Signing bonus from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$6,000,000 |
1998 |
Salary |
Salary from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$2,800,000 |
1997 |
Bonus |
Roster bonus from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$200,000 |
1997 |
Bonus |
Roster bonus from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$200,000 |
1997 |
Salary |
Salary from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$2,500,000 |
1996 |
Contract |
Contract with Pittsburgh Steelers |
$14,400,000 |
1996 |
Signing Bonus |
Signing bonus from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$4,000,000 |
1996 |
Salary |
Salary from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$1,500,000 |
1995 |
Salary |
Salary from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$620,000 |
1995 |
Others |
Incentive from Pittsburgh Steelers |
$1,200 |
1994 |
Others |
Incentive from St. Louis Rams |
$1,500 |
1994 |
Salary |
Salary from St. Louis Rams |
$531,000 |
1993 |
Salary |
Salary from St. Louis Rams |
$442,000 |
1993 |
Others |
Incentive from St. Louis Rams |
$1,700 |
1992 |
Signing Bonus |
Signing bonus from St. Louis Rams |
$2,000,000 |
1992 |
Salary |
Salary from St. Louis Rams |
$355,000 |
1992 |
Contract |
Contract with St. Louis Rams |
$4,600,000 |